General Christopher LaNeve,
Vice Chief of Staff, U.S. Army
Christopher C. LaNeve is a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He earned an undergraduate degree from University of Arizona and commissioned into the infantry through ROTC. He later received a master’s degree from Central Michigan University, and another master’s degree from the Command and General Staff College Advanced Operational Art Studies Fellowship.
LaNeve began his military service in the 4th Battlion, 21st Infantry, 7th Infantry Division. He then commanded the 101st Airborne Division, 3rd Battalion, 327th Infantry. After graduating Command and General Staff College, LaNeve earned promotions and served as an operations officer before being assigned to the Defense Intelligence Agency and serving in the Defense Warning Office.
LaNeve commanded battalions, divisions, combat groups, and teams in Afghanistan and at Fort Polk. He then served as Executive Officer to the Commander in Afghanistan for Resolute Support Mission, then Deputy Commanding General for Operations at Fort Bragg. He served as a commanding general in Germany before returning to the Pentagon. He deployed to Poland after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2023
General LaNeve served as Senior Military Assistant to the Secretary of War, Commanding General of Eighth Army and Chief of Staff of Combined Forces Command, and Commanding General of the 82nd Airborne Division before being nominated by President Donald Trump to be Vice Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army in October 2025. He was confirmed to his current position by the U.S. Senate in January of 2026 and sworn in the following month.
In the News…
U.S. Army Vice Chief of Staff General Christopher LaNeve discussed the award of a $464.8 million production contract to AeroVironment, Inc. for the production of the Enduring-High Energy Laser program (E-HEL) directed energy system. The laser system is expected to improve the U.S. military response to drones.
“This first-of-its-kind directed energy program will enable our formations to defeat unmanned systems and dominate from the outset,” General Christopher LaNeve stated. “Pairing human ingenuity with advanced technology is what ensures our Army will continue to outpace America’s adversaries.”
E-HEL production is being ramped up after disappointing feedback from military personnel on the performance of the Army’s Directed Energy Maneuver Short-Range Air Defense (DE M-SHORAD)
